IBM to pay $44,000 fine over online job listings

Jeremy Kirk |
Sept. 30, 2013

IBM was accused of violating immigration law by courting F-1 and H-1B visa holders, the U.S. Justice Department said.

IBM will pay a US$44,000 fine to settle a case alleging it violated anti-discrimination law by placing online job listings seeking software developers with specific visas, the U.S. Department of Justice said Friday.

The company sought people holding F-1 and H1-B visas for positions that would have required the candidates to relocate outside the U.S, the agency said in a news release.

The Immigration and Nationality Act does not allow employers to express a preference for visa holders over U.S. citizens and permanent residents unless required to comply with another law, an executive order or a government contract, the agency said.

F-1 visas are issued to foreign students who are studying in the U.S., while H1-B visas are six-year visas for people with technical expertise.

IBM also agreed to revise its hiring and recruiting procedures, including training human resources employees about INA complications. The company will be required to report on its process for a two-year period.